As we stepped out of the building housing the buyback counter, Mika and Saori-chan came to a halt. They both opened the fists that had been tightly clutching their coins, stared at the money for several seconds, and let out a heavy, synchronized sigh.
““Haaa...””
I couldn't see their faces from my position, but a gloomy, oppressive aura radiated from them both.
“After everything we went through... only 500 yen...”
“You’re lucky, Mika-chan. I only got 100 yen...”
““Haaa...””
Man. With an atmosphere this heavy, it was hard to find the right words to cut in.
Well, I had to try something.
“Hey, look, don’t let it get to you. For a newcomer explorer starting out these days, that’s actually a pretty standard haul. It’s not like your results were particularly bad or anything.”
“He’s right,” Yuji chimed in. “I mean, buyback prices have plummeted compared to the early days, but still...”
“Exactly,” Hiiragi-san added, offering her own consolation. “When I first started, my earnings weren't much different from yours.”
We all took turns trying to cheer them up. It was true that Yuji and Hiiragi-san’s initial earnings hadn't been much higher than theirs. Though, in my case, I’d cheated a bit to make my money.
“But Yukino-san, this won't even cover our train fare,” Mika lamented.
“I... I can’t even buy a drink with this,” Saori said.
“Well, I mean... you’re right. In strictly financial terms, this dungeon exploration was a net loss. However, the greatest success of this first dive is that you both fought monsters and returned safely without a single scratch. There are almost no newcomer explorers who make it through their first trip unscathed.”
Hiiragi-san was right; the real win was coming back from their first monster encounters without an injury. Most newcomers misjudge their limits, venture too deep, and get torn apart, or they hesitate to deliver a finishing blow and suffer a nasty counterattack.
We hadn't passed any injured explorers on the way in or out today, but if they had seen someone being carried out, Mika and Saori might have had a different perspective. They would have realized that the size of the reward is the least important thing during a first dive.
““...””
After hearing Hiiragi-san out, Mika and Saori-chan looked back down at the coins in their palms, falling into deep thought.
A few seconds later, they both clenched their hands shut and looked up.
“You’re right. Just like Yukino-san said, the fact that we came back in one piece is our biggest achievement...”
“Yeah. I’m sorry, everyone. You all went out of your way to guide us so we wouldn't get hurt, and here we are just grumbling selfishly instead of saying thank you...”
Mika and Saori-chan bowed their heads, apologizing for their behavior. It seemed they’d managed to look at themselves objectively and cool their heads.
I glanced at Yuji and Hiiragi-san before speaking to the girls.
“It’s not something you need to apologize for, so don't sweat it. Your frustration is perfectly natural. Anyone would want to complain if they felt their life-or-death struggle was only worth a few coins.”
From an outsider's perspective, it might look like they just casually defeated some monsters and picked up drop items. But for them, those items were the spoils of a desperate battle fought through layers of tension and fear. To have those spoils bought for a pittance—it was only natural to feel cheated.
“But...”
“I won't tell you to ignore the money entirely, but don’t start doing reckless dives just to chase a profit. Explorers who get blinded by the money and forget how to back off usually meet a grisly end.”
Those explorers usually end up dead or so severely injured they’re forced into retirement. I didn't want that for Mika and Saori. That was why I had to drive the point home now.
“...Yeah, I get it. I’ll be careful.”
“I’ll be careful too. I think I was getting a little too caught up in the idea of making a profit...”
It seemed they weren't just nodding along; they were actually taking my words to heart. Then again, they’re both carrying debt, so I suppose I can’t blame them for wanting to earn whenever they can.
“Good. Then let's leave that talk there, alright?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
Mika and Saori-chan pulled out their wallets and tucked the coins away. The fact that they were putting the money away suggested that while they weren't happy, they were at least satisfied for now.
“Alright! Now, how about some lunch? My treat, so don’t hold back!”
“Yeah!”
“Yes!”
The moment they heard the word “treat,” the gloom vanished, replaced by cheers of delight. They were so depressed a moment ago, but they sure perked up fast once free food was involved.
“Yuji, Hiiragi-san. Is there anything else you need to do here? If not, I was thinking we could head down to the town to eat.”
“I’m all good,” Yuji said.
“I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything either,” Hiiragi-san added.
“Then let’s go.”
With everyone’s agreement, we made our way toward the bus terminal.
Phew. Now, finally, Mika and Saori-chan’s first dungeon exploration was truly over. We weren't even inside for an hour, but guiding newcomers is mentally exhausting.
After getting off the bus from the dungeon at the nearest station, we stood looking at the town map in the station rotary. While we had picked up some pamphlets for local restaurants back at the dungeon, this was a town where we usually only saw the station. We had no sense of the layout; we weren't even sure whether to turn left or right for our first step.
We cross-referenced the map board with the pamphlet to find our way to the restaurant.
“The hospital and the bank are over that way, so we should probably go right.”
“Looks like it. Hiiragi-san, did you find the shop online?”
“Yes, I did. The path Kokonoe-kun suggested seems to be correct.”
“Right. Let’s head out, then.”
We stowed our bags of armor and supplies in the station's rental lockers, carrying only our weapon bags as we started walking toward the restaurant district. We’d actually wanted to leave the weapons in the lockers too, but the station staff warned us that firearms and swords weren't allowed, so we were forced to carry them along. Well, at least we were lighter without the armor.
“Man, this area has really been built up, hasn't it?”
“Seriously. It’s been, what, nine months since the dungeon was opened? I can’t believe how many buildings went up in less than a year.”
As we walked along the train tracks, Yuji and I admired the changing cityscape. It was unrecognizable from when we first arrived. There were numerous weekly mansions and one-room apartments lining the path, along with several famous restaurant chains clearly targeting the new residents. Everyone certainly has a sharp eye for business.
As Yuji and I were evaluating the town, Mika asked with a curious expression.
“Hey, Onii-chan. Did the town really change that much?”
“Yeah. More than just the buildings, this whole area used to be just countryside. When we first came to the dungeon here, it was nothing but rice paddies. They were only just starting to fill in the fields along the road for foundation work. Right, Yuji?”
“Yeah, that’s right. The convenience store near the station was there, but that family restaurant over there was still a construction site.”
“Whoa, really?”
From the locals' perspective, the economic impact of the dungeon boom must be a massive blessing. When the dungeon first appeared, there was probably a panic about a special grade hazard appearing so close to home, leading to people moving away. But once things settled, there was no better way to attract people with zero initial investment. On top of that, there are plenty of explorers who earn a decent living. The population with purchasing power increases, and companies follow the money. The economic ripple effect on a city with a dungeon is immense.
The evidence was everywhere, right down to the brand-new roads and guardrails. It was proof that the city’s tax revenue had surged, allowing for a generous infrastructure budget.
“Well, as long as the dungeon situation remains stable, this town will probably keep thriving,” I noted.
“Yeah, most likely.”
“I suppose so. As long as the status quo holds,” Hiiragi-san added, though her voice trailed off.
The reason we were all being vague was that since no one knows why the dungeons appeared, no one knows when they might vanish. You can't know the future without foresight.
Currently, this town's growth is entirely dependent on the dungeon. If it were to disappear tomorrow, the population growth and corporate interest would vanish with it. If the city continues to build and budget based on projected growth that suddenly stops, the supply of facilities will exceed the demand, leading to a massive deficit. And once people raise their standard of living, it is incredibly hard to lower it again. If the town begins to decline, not just the explorers, but even the local residents might flee to the big cities. Especially since they’re paving over farmland; the demographic that lived off the land is already dwindling.
It wouldn't just be a decline; the town could easily become a marginalized community or disappear entirely.
“Hmm, I see.”
I wasn't sure if Mika understood the implications, but she gave a somewhat disinterested response. Well, that was fine.
Timing her question for when my talk with Mika ended, Saori-chan spoke up next.
“Um, Onii-san. Are all these new apartments and mansions around here just for explorers?”
“Hmm? Well, probably. Some of them might be for regular people who moved here for dungeon-related jobs, but I’d bet most are for explorers. Look, Saori-chan, check out this rental sign.”
I pointed to an information board in front of a nearby one-room apartment building.
“Whoa. Even for a one-room, the rent is 80,000 yen...”
Mika’s face clouded over with a look of disgust at the price. Beside her, Saori-chan had a similar expression.
“Well, it’s market price. If there’s demand, someone will pay it. Still, 80,000 yen for a one-room in a town this deep in the mountains...”
It felt like a bit of a rip-off, to be honest. However, rent wasn't the point.
“More importantly, look at the floor plan here. Besides being fully furnished, it says ‘Equipped with a secure metal locker.’ A normal rental property doesn't come with one of those.”
“...You’re right. And the locker takes up half the closet.”
It really was a massive metal locker. I wondered what kind of gear they expected people to store to warrant such a thing.
We continued walking through the explorer-oriented residential area until we reached the restaurant district. Even though the lunch rush had passed, the streets were still lively with people. We checked the pamphlet and our phone maps to find our target.
Hiiragi-san found it first.
“Hey, isn't it over there?”
“Where, Hiiragi-san?”
“There. See the shop sign with the arrow pointing toward the back alley?”
“Let’s see... ah, you’re right.”
Following her gaze, I spotted the sign. We turned into the alley as instructed.
“There it is. This is the place.”
A restaurant that looked like a renovated old folk house appeared before us. The area was beautifully landscaped with seasonal flowers, giving it a bright, welcoming vibe. Fluttering at the entrance was a tricolor flag of green, white, and red.
“Italian for lunch today, then...” I muttered, caught by the savory aroma of baking pizza drifting out from the shop.
Yeah. I hadn't moved around much today, but I was definitely hungry.